Day 1 – Finch Bay Land & Sea

Once through airport controls, a hotel staff member will greet you, give you basic directions, and receive your checked luggage. This person will direct you from here on and will make sure that your checked luggage is delivered directly to the hotel. Please note that if your hand luggage was taken by the airline staff (either in Quito or Guayaquil, because it was too big) you need to advise us upon arrival. At this time, please make sure you keep all papers given to you by the local Galapagos authorities. You will need them later when departing Galapagos.

Please note that this is the last time you will be in contact with your baggage until you reach the hotel. Make sure you carry the following with you for the day in a small daypack: Comfortable, closed-toe shoes, long socks, and the essentials described previously. Also, bring a small amount of money for souvenirs, extras, and other items not included in your programme. Please follow our staff’s instructions regarding transportation and feel free to ask them for any additional information.

The next step is to board a bus that takes you down to the public dock. The transfer bus is a basic official airport shuttle which you may need to share with other passengers. Sometimes, this means we must wait a while for the next available bus. The ride generally lasts no more than 10 minutes. Make sure your hand luggage is with you at all times.

Once on the south side of Baltra Island, you will walk a short distance from the bus to the passenger ferry to cross Itabaca Channel and reach the northern shores of Santa Cruz Island. The ferry ride lasts approximately 15 minutes and is shared with other passengers. Sometimes, if the ferry is full, we may experience a slight delay as we wait for the ferry to be available. The driver will pay the ferry.

Once you have reached the Santa Cruz side of the channel, wait here with your luggage until your chartered transport vehicle arrives. You will travel up and over the lush highlands on your way to the south side of the island where the hotel is located.

The ride affords views of up to five vegetation zones before stopping at Los Gemelos, two pit craters that make an excellent introduction to the Galapagos’ volcanic origin, before descending to the south side of the island to visit one of its most remote regions, where the famous giant tortoises roam in their natural habitat!

You will have the chance to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. One soft drink is included in the lunch. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. We recommend using the restrooms at the restaurant. You can leave your backpack in the transfer vehicle.

After lunch and a visit, climb back on board the transfer vehicle for the rest of the ride to the largest port in the archipelago, Puerto Ayora. At the pier, embark on the hotel’s water taxi (staff will call it the panga) and cross over from the Municipal Dock to the Hotel Dock.

Disembark from the panga at the Hotel Dock and leave your luggage with the hotel staff. They will transfer it to your rooms. Enjoy the short walk (600 m / 0.3 mi) along a pedestrian-only pathway through mangrove-areas and brackish lagoons before reaching the beachfront area and entering the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel grounds.

Time to make the most of what makes the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel famous: a white-coralline beach, kayaks, a solar-heated swimming pool, and its mangrove coastline.